Kandy faces disease risk after Tooth Relic exposition

27 April 2025 07:31 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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By Indika Sri Aravinda

Colombo, April 27 (Daily Mirror) - The Public Health Inspectors' Union has warned that Kandy is at risk of spreading serious infectious diseases because the city cannot handle the large number of people coming for the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Union President Upul Rohana said there is a risk of diseases such as diarrhea, dengue and chikungunya spreading among the people.

He predicted that the risk will increase after the exposition ends, as the number of mosquitoes in the area is expected to rise.

The Kandy Municipal Council has reported that the amount of garbage being collected in a single day is equal to what is usually collected in a month, and there isn’t enough space to dispose of it properly.

Rohana also pointed out that there are not enough toilet facilities for the large crowd. As a result, people are relieving themselves on both sides of the Mahaweli River, and garbage is also being dumped there, creating places for mosquitoes to breed.

He added that some pilgrims are already suffering from fever and skin diseases, which increases the risk of spreading illnesses.

Earlier, the arrival of pilgrims was limited to the Kandy Municipal Council area, but now long queues of people are seen in nearby Pradeshiya Sabha areas as well.

He said that around 1,000 dansalas (free food stalls) have been given permission to serve food to the pilgrims. However, steps have been taken to stop dansalas from serving frozen milk drinks to reduce the risk of diarrhea.

Upul Rohana further said that all the restaurants in these dansalas and in Kandy city are being closely monitored by Public Health Inspectors. About 50 Public Health Inspectors have been stationed in Kandy city to manage the situation.

Comments - 8

Buddhist monks, please teach these people real teachings of Lord Buddha Sunday, 27 April 2025 11:25 PM

Doesn't matter who says what. The government is trying to prove that they did a great job. Even though the entire Kandy became a huge garbage disposal site, some are happy because they were able to visit the Tooth Relic. What about people living in Kandy? Did the devotees at least think about it for a few seconds? Their selfishness made our sacred city prone to various diseases. Who will suffer at the end? Is this how they are going to reach Nirvana?

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Dr Tissa Fernando Monday, 28 April 2025 12:34 AM

Even without the exposition, Kandy is a disease breeding city. You visit Kandy on a weekend and you come back with fever and cough that lasts for 2 weeks.

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senakab Monday, 28 April 2025 07:14 AM

whoever did the plan for this exposition is to be blamed at first, invite uncontrol able amount of people and panic them with a timeframe to cram much as possible devotees where a place can handle only so many people, probably the planners counting his/her money by now enjoying somewhere

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Roshan Monday, 28 April 2025 07:43 AM

Also mention the profits the businesses in Kandy earned due to large amount of people visiting kandy

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Disappointed Kandyan Monday, 28 April 2025 08:57 AM

I have to wonder who are the idiots who are advising this government?? They need to be sacked immediately. Mr. AKD your job is to protect the citizens of this nation and to maintain a safe environment among other responsibilities it is however not to risk and expose them to diseases and viruses You and your team have managed to break most of the important ordinances of the Public Health act that are in place to keep citizens safe from such diseases. While your intentions for this event would have been in good spirits , you undoubtedly failed in being responsible In keeping the people of Kandy safe from being exposed to several health risk factors. Extremely worried and disappointed !

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D P P Prasad Monday, 28 April 2025 08:57 AM

This PHI organisation is utter useless one. In terms of their job description they should be responsible for the sanitation. If the mosquito breeding is high the arrangements should be made to fumigate in order to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding. If the river bank of the Mahawali is filled with the human evacuations the steps should be taken to dispose such in collaboration with the municipal workers. We all know that a large number of devotees traveled to Kandy to pay homage to the sacred relic during the exposition even beyond the carrying capacity. These happenings are natural nobody can stop it. Hence the people health inspectors should comply with their routine duties without talking the nonsense

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Ganesh Monday, 28 April 2025 02:18 PM

Our people are fools. They thought swapping politicians would fix everything, like changing a diaper during diarrhea — but the mess keeps flowing because the real problem wasn’t treated. They don't realise they are part of the system. Until they change their thinking, attitudes, and behavior, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge — the rot will continue.

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PG Monday, 28 April 2025 02:44 PM

Who destroy Sri Lanka? Only Sri Lankans. What status would the country be in if British never left the country? It would be a well developed country. Shame on you Sri Lankans.

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